business-action-february-march-2020

usiness

ACTION

north enterprise

devon

growth

innovation

news & views

Wake up a winner

Enter Business Action Awards

Business events

From advice to training

Data protection

Easy ways to comply with regulations

Be Ready, be accessible

Boost disabled employment and sales

business-action.co.uk | February / March 2020 | @businessactionm

CONTENTS

Virtual Business Partners

Because running a business

can be a lonely journey!

Why work with a Virtual Business Partner?

What’s the Benefit?

If you are a solopreneur, entrepreneur or SME we can help

you to:

• Consolidate your position - stabilise or expand, depending on the

health of your business

• Streamline your business, across - processes, procedures, systems

and people

• Invigorate and energise your reasons for starting this journey -

through coaching and collaboration

How do we do this?

• By listening - to what’s working and what’s not, and to your end

goal vision.

• By offering practical advice and actually doing what’s needed - we

are not just all talk, we are not gurus, we actually do the work.

With the added potential benefit of virtual assistance.

• By bringing extensive experience and a proven track record to the

table.

Are you ready to take your start-up or SME to the next level?

If so, contact us to discuss whether working with a Virtual Business

Partner is right for you.

Contact details: email: info@virtualbusinesspartners.co.uk

tel: 01271 603078 or 07788 181419

www.virtualbusinesspartners.co.uk

Web site | business-action.co.uk

Online version | business-action.uk

Vol 2 Issue 1 – February / March 2020 – distribution 2,500

You have to be in it to win it............................................................................ 1

Independent food firm expands UK reach................................................ 2

Award win for manufacturer........................................................................... 2

New year, new office for design agency.................................................... 3

Business group’s new chairman.................................................................. 3

Flower shop blooms under new ownership............................................. 4

Bring Your Dog to Work Day sponsor........................................................ 4

Be Ready to attract more Purple Pounds................................................. 5

BBxpo earlybird exhibition stand offer...................................................... 5

Privacy: sorting fact from fiction.................................................................. 6

Business Action advertising plans.............................................................. 7

Making accurate sales predictions.............................................................. 7

Healthy life, healthy business........................................................................ 8

Business directory – find products and services................................. 9

Business Action Awards 2020....................................................................... 10

Headline sponsor................................................................................................. 11

Awards categories and sponsors................................................................. 12

Top tips on winning business awards........................................................ 17

In the hot seat: Jason Sharman of Atlas Packaging............................ 18

Are you still typing invoice data into your accounts?......................... 19

From £10 to £1 million #10to1m.................................................................... 19

Hotel events support local food producers............................................. 20

Petroc: technology centre launch, business drop-ins

and apprenticeship event................................................................................. 20

Devon Chamber Access to Finance Fair................................................... 21

International trade training ............................................................................. 21

Any views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher, Need it Find it.

Readers are strongly recommended to seek advice from an appropriate professional

before taking any action on any topic discussed in the magazine and to check full

terms and conditions of any products or services promoted in advertisements.

Set Your

Business

Apart

The UK’s Largest

Trading Standards Run

Business Approval Scheme

Backed by more than 50 local authority

Trading Standards Services nationwide,

Buy With Confidence supports honest

and trustworthy businesses, setting your

company apart from your competitors

Find out more: www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk

business action | February / March 2020 | business-action.co.uk

ENTERPRISE

business

ACTION

You have to be in it to win it

On Thursday 5 December

2019, Alan Williams and

Robert Zarywacz shared

copies of Business Action with

businesses from across the UK

at Small Business Saturday’s

House of Lords reception for its

#SmallBiz100 winners.

Business Action was only

able to win because we entered.

We won in 2019, so which

North Devon business can win

in 2020? We’ll only have another

winner if you enter.

That is why we have

launched our own business

awards – to encourage more

North Devon businesses to

seek recognition by entering

the many sector and regional,

national and international business

awards programmes.

If you haven’t ever entered

an award or think that you

have no chance of winning, you

need to do two things:

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY #SMALLBIZ100

Robert Zarywacz

Editor, Designer & Publisher

t: 07971 176044

e: robertz@business-action.co.uk

@robertz

1. Enter the Business Action

Awards – 11 categories

covering every type of business

– see page 10.

Alan Williams

Advertising, Distribution & Publisher

t: 07970 671192

e: alan@business-action.co.uk

2. Read Denise O’Leary’s

book ‘WINNING – How to

Win Business Awards’ – see

page 17 to read Denise’s top

tips on entering awards and

a review of her book.

In the spotlight

We hope our awards will

inspire you to put your business

in the spotlight, locally

and further afield.

At the same time, we will

continue to feature businesses

across the area in this magazine

and look forward to even more

stories of achievement in 2020.

We think what makes Business

Action different is that we

include all businesses, from

individuals just starting out to

bigger, established business.

We don’t charge for editorial

coverage, as we believe in

publishing stories that deserve

to be told.

That is why we are so

grateful to all our advertisers

who enable us to publish Business

Action for you.

BUSINESS

sponsored by

pleased to sponsor this year’s

Business Action Awards and

to celebrate the showcasing

of the marvellous variety of

successful businesses here in

North Devon.

“I look forward to congratulating

each of the category

winners and nominees on

their excellence and for

providing our young people

with aspirations of a bright

and lucrative future right here

on their doorstep.”

Compensation Scheme apply

to enhance investor protection

against financial loss.

With well over three decades

of experience, we also boast

some of the highest financial

services’ qualifications in the

country. Staff are encouraged

and sponsored to achieve qualifications

beyond the industry

standard to ensure that we

continue to deliver an excellent

service to clients.

Success can be attributed

largely to the company’s

uncompromising commitment

to clients, including ongoing

assessment and management

of investments, a thorough

understanding of financial

markets, prudent management

and long-term financial

stability.

We do not simply ‘sell

products’ – we provide a

comprehensive and longlasting

service to individuals

and their families. This is an

important distinction and an

approach that is rare in today’s

fast-moving landscape.

This has led to many clients

recommending family and

friends to seek our advice – the

ultimate endorsement of the

quality of our services.

■■Visit miltonpj.net

@businessactionm | February / March 2020 | business action 11

AWARDS

EASY TO ENTER ONLINE OR BY EMAIL

Businesses based or operating in North Devon can enter as

many of the 11 categories over the following pages as they like.

Enter using the online form for each specific category or

download, complete and email the Word entry form for that

category. Please write your entries in a word-processing app in

advance and copy into the online form to avoid losing text. See

more awards tips on page 17.

■■Visit business-action.co.uk/awards

Cooper Golding is a local,

independent provider of highquality

recruitment services.

With three offices based in

North Devon and Somerset,

our aim is to help candidates

find rewarding work opportunities

locally and further

afield. We strive to support

our clients in finding talented

individuals to drive their business

success. We work with

many leading companies both

locally, regionally and nationally,

across our core sectors

– manufacturing, engineering,

industrial, sales and marketing

and business support.

We are a group of experienced

business and recruitment

specialists here at Cooper

Golding. Professional and

passionate about helping our

candidates and clients on their

recruitment journey. Honesty

and integrity and people first

are part of our core values,

offering an approach which

is transparent and respectful,

knowledgeable and innovative.

Having been part of the

local community for the past

eight years, we understand

the struggles that clients face

while trying to find the perfect

candidate. We offer a range of

tailored recruitment services

to help our clients find the best

available talent. From permanent

to temporary staffing

solutions, we collaborate with

companies to understand their

culture, vision and goals as

well as with our candidates

to ensure we make the best

suited match. We use the latest

The ‘Best

Employer

Award’ seeks

to recognise

employers based

or operating in

North Devon

who are committed to providing

a fulfilling environment in

which their employees thrive.

Many of us spend a large

proportion of our time at

work and working in an environment

which is safe, healthy

and where we feel happy is

technology and data, coupled

with the personal touch

which makes our service fast,

efficient and bespoke to each

individual client’s and candidate’s

needs.

Cooper Golding is

committed to helping candidates

find their ideal job

by providing honest career

advice, conducting CV health

checks and offering interview

tips to ensure candidates are

promoting themselves in the

best light.

We are sponsoring ‘The

BEST EMPLOYER

sponsored by

very important.

The Best

Employer Award

seeks to recognise

employers

in North Devon

who realise this

and who achieve exceptional

standards of care for their

employees.

The Best Employer Award is

open to any business in North

Devon which employs people,

from one member of staff to

hundreds or thousands.

Best Employer Award’ this year

as we believe it is important

to highlight the qualities that

make a good employer. As a

local recruitment agency, we

see a range of skill shortages

within different markets every

day and believe it is increasingly

important that candidates

have a choice in who they work

for. Employers should work

towards creating a great and

positive work ethic and environment

to attract and retain

the best talent.

■■Visit coopergolding.co.uk

The Independent Corrugated

Cardboard Packaging Specialists

Passionate about our Community and supporting

our Charity of the Year 2020.

Roundswell Business Park,

Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 3TT.

+44(0)1271

344 055

sales@atlaspackaging.co.uk

www.atlaspackaging.co.uk

business action | February / March 2020 | business-action.co.uk

AWARDS

BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS SERVICE EXCELLENCE

sponsored by

The ‘Businessto-Business

Excellence

Award’ recognises

North

Devon businesses

who

provide important B2B

services to other businesses.

Every business needs essential

business services to operate

successfully. While it can be

easy to consider accountancy,

legal or other B2B services

solely as costs, effective

accountants and lawyers add

value to improve the productivity,

sales and

profitability of

their clients.

The Businessto-Business

Excellence

Award is open

to any business in North

Devon providing B2B services

to other businesses, such as

accountancy, administrative,

advertising, finance, healthcare,

health and safety, insurance,

law, marketing, sales,

training, as well as advice on

everything from employment

to outsourcing.

CONSUMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE

The ‘Consumer Service Excellence

Award’ recognises North

Devon businesses who provide

services direct to residents and

the public.

Each of us relies on a

number of consumer businesses

in our life, from

hairdressers and barbers to

cleaners, gardeners, fitness

instructors, health practitioners

and dentists, and more.

The Consumer Service

Excellence Award is open

to any business in North

Devon providing services to

consumers.

From entertainment to

sport, leisure, healthcare and

beauty, the Consumer Service

Excellence Award highlights

businesses in North Devon

whose services support

consumers and the community.

Zero7

Zero7 provides expert business

telecoms and technical support.

We know that every business

is different and so are their

needs, which is why we provide

bespoke managed services to

suit every requirement.

Whether you are a single

line and broadband user with

one mobile or have multiple

users and large-scale telephone

systems, we can tailor and build

a solution for your business.

We work with the biggest

network providers in the

The ‘Best Retailer Award’ recognises

North Devon retailers

who provide the best shopping

experience and service.

Shops are the lifeblood of

our towns and villages, yet

our retailers face huge challenges

with little support from

government and councils.

Those stores who address the

needs of their customers, especially

independent shops, are

driving a resurgence in high

street retailing based on the

growing appreciation of their

BEST RETAILER

industry including Openreach,

EE and O2 so we can assist with

infrastructure and installations,

from a single line and broadband

to large-scale projects

such as commercial builds and

Gigabit Internet connections.

We believe in a customer

service-focused approach,

offering competitive pricing

and technical expertise. Our

in-house billing and customer

support teams are on hand

to help your business get

connected.

■■Visit zr7.co

personal service, willingness

to offer what customers want

and the value they give to the

community.

The Best Retailer Award is

open to any retailer in North

Devon. From village stores on

which residents depend for

essentials to specialist retailers

offering eclectic ranges of

high-quality goods, the Best

Retailer Award highlights

retailers who make the shopping

experience in North

Devon the best in the country.

@businessactionm | February / March 2020 | business action 13

AWARDS

EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION

sponsored by

The ‘Excellence

in Construction

Award’ aims to

recognise excellence

throughout

the North Devon

building and

construction sector. It highlights

exceptional standards

of built environments, which

provide high quality of life for

work, home, and play.

The Excellence in

Construction

award is open to

all businesses in

the sector based

or working in

North Devon.

From sole

traders and SMEs to large

companies, this includes

trades such as building, decorating,

carpentry, electricity,

plumbing, heating, and

landscaping.

DIGITAL AND ONLINE ACHIEVEMENT

The ‘Digital and Online

Achievement Award’ recognises

North Devon businesses

who are developing the full

potential of online and digital

technologies and the internet.

Technology is transforming

business. When used effectively,

it can create opportunities

for innovation, increased

productivity, greater profitability

and better working

conditions. Technology also

offers businesses in North

Devon tools that can compensate

for the area’s remoteness,

which can create barriers to

reaching new markets.

The Digital and Online

Achievement Award is open to

any business in North Devon

working with digital and

internet technology, either as

a creator or user. This includes

building web sites, creating

content and using social

media for marketing and

selling, as well as integrating

cloud technology or other

online systems into business

processes to improve efficiency

and customer experience.

RGB Building Supplies

We are one of the leading independent

builders merchants in

the South West, operating out

of 20 locations across Devon,

Cornwall and Somerset. At

our branches you’ll find a wide

array of high-quality products

in stock, including landscaping,

plumbing and heating, heavyside

and lightside, decorating,

and general building materials,

as well as dedicated kitchen,

bathroom and bedroom showrooms

in many locations.

Our branch teams are highly

knowledgeable and are on hand

to offer necessary technical

assistance, recommend products

from our extensive stock,

and assist with any projects

you’re undertaking. Whether

it’s our knowledgeable staff,

great range of products, or

authenticity and reliability, we

aim to go that extra mile.

We have been independent

since 1850, and feel that our

family roots and community

focus are at the heart of

what we do. We understand

that customers’ needs are

constantly changing, so we

work hard to evolve with the

times, and make sure dealing

with us is as easy as possible.

Our stock profile includes

a wide variety of products,

enabling us to fulfil your

requirements whether you’re

building, maintaining, renovating

or repairing.

Our local branches deliver

to our local communities,

providing quality products

from our trusted suppliers,

while overcoming any logistical

challenges that sites may

face. For these reasons, our

customers always trust us to

deliver, when and how we say

we will.

We are open to all,

welcoming both the trade and

public, no matter how big or

small the project. We’re proud

to have been building our local

communities for the past 170

years, and look forward to

serving you in one of our 20

branches throughout Devon,

Cornwall and Somerset soon.

We’re delighted to be

involved in recognising a

local hero in the construction

industry, a sector very relevant

to our business.

■■Visit rgbltd.co.uk

Visit ideaengine.co.uk to see all the

brands that we have brought to life

online, in print, outdoors and in a

whole host of other ways.

ideaengine.co.uk

01271 324594 or 07974306711

Web, Brand, Advertising, Design, Literature

business action | February / March 2020 | business-action.co.uk

AWARDS

EXCELLENCE IN HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM

sponsored by

The ‘Excellence

in Hospitality

and Tourism

Award’ recognises

businesses

who attract

visitors to North

Devon, offer the warmest welcome

and provide experiences

to last a lifetime.

The North Devon landscape

is so beautiful and offers so

many activities and experiences

to visitors that it is a

natural holiday destination.

The experiences visitors have

here determine what they

tell their family and friends

and whether

they will return

again. That

is why businesses

in our

hospitality and

tourism sector

are of vital importance to

North Devon’s reputation as a

visitor destination.

The Excellence in Hospitality

and Tourism Award is

open to any business operating

in North Devon that works to

attract visitors and provide

hospitality services, from

accommodation to dining,

leisure activities and travel.

HIGHEST ACHIEVING LEARNER

sponsored by

The ‘Highest

Achieving

Learner Award’

recognises the

achievements

of individuals

working in businesses

in North Devon who

are currently or have recently

completed training or skills

development.

Learning and skills are

essential both to developing

the full potential of individuals

so they enjoy satisfying

careers and also to creating

a skilled and productive

workforce for North Devon’s

businesses.

The Highest

Achieving

Learner Award

is open to

nominations

of individuals

of any age or background

working in North Devon who

are currently taking or have

recently completed workrelated

training. This ranges

from courses to improve

numeracy and literacy to

traineeships, apprenticeships,

graduate courses, vocational

courses and specialist professional

qualifications.

Marsdens Devon Cottages

is an independent family

business, started in 1973.

We’ve grown a lot since the

early days of letting our first

self-catering holiday cottages,

but our promise to provide the

very best service – as well as a

fantastic range of great places

to stay – hasn’t changed one

bit. As every year goes by, our

experience continues to grow.

With over 400 holiday cottages

across North Devon and

Exmoor, Marsdens Devon

Cottages understands how to

get the most from letting your

holiday property.

Our local team offers a

professional, personal and

friendly service, plus all our

properties are graded by our

own Quality Assessment Team

to give guests confidence.

■■Visit marsdens.co.uk

Atlas Packaging

Atlas Packaging is the UK’s

leading independent cardboard

box company.

Our main aim is to provide

our customers with the best

bespoke corrugated packaging

and to do this we have our own

design and production service.

This means that at every step

of the process it’s conducted

accurately whilst keeping our

prices highly competitive.

We understand that long

waiting times, costs and poor

quality can harm the impression

of your businesses. At Atlas

Packaging we have the advantage

of housing both design and

manufacturing facilities on site

which allows us to fast-track

the process of making your

corrugated packaging. We keep

our prices fair and competitive

to ensure that the highest

quality standards are maintained

throughout the process.

And with constant reinvestment

and consultation we are able to

offer state-of-the-art printing

and manufacturing services to

maintain quality is at its very

best every step of the way.

■■Visit atlaspackaging.co.uk

01271 370707 www.zr7.co hello@zr7.co

LINES AND CALLS

BUSINESS BROADBAND

VOIP TELEPHONE SYSTEMS

BUSINESS MOBILES

4G CONNECTIVITY

WI-FI NETWORKS

ISDN AND PBX

CABLING AND INSTALLATIONS

LEASED LINES AND GIGABIT

IN-HOUSE BILLING AND INVOICING

LOCAL TECHNICAL SUPPORT

The Fox at Fremington

Bar, café, pub

Sunday Carvery £10.95

(£14.95 including desert)

Booking advisable

01271 344161

Church Hill, Fremington, Barnstaple, EX31 2NT

facebook.com/thefoxfremington

@businessactionm | February / March 2020 | business action 15

AWARDS

The ‘Made in

North Devon

Award’ recognises

North

Devon manufacturers

and

producers whose products are

enjoyed locally and exported

across the UK and internationally.

North Devon has a long

history of manufacturing and

production. Its manufacturing

ranges from traditional goods

and products to hi-tech

The Sign Maker

The Sign Maker manufactures

high-quality signs and

memorials to suit all budgets,

offering a huge choice in

materials, fonts and images. It

also provides a massive range

of standard safety signs, posters

and equipment.

We make so many different

signs just the way you want

them – house signs, home

signs and name plates, door

numbers, memorial plaques,

business signs and wheel

covers.

MADE IN NORTH DEVON

sponsored by

equipment and

materials used

in aviation,

medicine and

other sectors. Its

food and drink

products range from meat and

fish to speciality ciders, wines,

beers and marmalades.

The Made in North Devon

Award is open to manufacturers

or producers of physical

products, including materials,

equipment, food and drink.

Our main workshops are in

North Devon, but we send our

signs all over the world. We

know we are lucky to be situated

in the country – and on

our web site you can learn how

we Care for our Countryside.

If you need advice with any

of the signs, plaques, business

signage, memorials or gifts, do

call us on 01769 561355. And

visit our web site to see the

huge variety of signage we offer.

You can place orders by phone,

email or via our online shop.

■■Visit sign-maker.net

OUTSTANDING NEW BUSINESS

The ‘Outstanding New Business

Award’ recognises the

success of new North Devon

businesses as they establish

themselves.

New businesses are

essential to the success of the

North Devon economy as

new technology causes some

older industries to disappear

and the natural cycle leads to

experienced business people

retiring. New businesses are

always needed to replace

The ‘Young Entrepreneur

Award’ recognises successful

North Devon business owners

and directors aged 30 or

under.

The business world is

changing faster than ever

before which makes it more

difficult for young people to

predict how their careers can

develop. The small population

in a large geographical

area also limits the number

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR

old ones and to develop the

economy for the future. Due

to its remoteness, running a

business in North Devon is a

big challenge and maintaining

a business here is a major

achievement.

The Outstanding New

Business Award is open to

any business in North Devon

started on or after 1 January

2018. This includes businesses

acquired by and transformed

by new owners.

of opportunities available

to young people. The Young

Entrepreneur Award recognises

the achievements of

young people who start their

own business or who progress

through existing job roles to

own or lead a business.

The Young Enterprise

Award is open to any North

Devon business owner or

director aged 30 years or

under on 31 March 2020.

business-action.co.uk/awards

You are invited to the official launch of our new Centre of Technology & Innovation

Excellence (Cotie) on Friday 7 February 2020. Cotie is here to provide North Devon

businesses with the tools to create their own future.

Our innovation centre is built to inspire collaboration and creativity, and contains

everything from:

• an expertly-equipped development zone with 3D manufacturing technology

• a relaxed yet professional conferencing area

• open-plan hot desks area complete with high spec and fully loaded PCs and Macs

• a state-of-the-art cleanroom

• two crisply modern design pods

OFFICIAL

LAUNCH

7 FEBRUARY 2020

8-10am

The event will run from 8-10am with a welcome address from Sean Mackney, Petroc

Principal & CEO at 8.30am. Refreshments will be available.

We look forward to welcoming you on the day.

PLEASE REGISTER YOUR ATTENDANCE:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cotie-official-launchtickets-90301396909

Petroc

Old Sticklepath Hill

Barnstaple

Devon

EX31 2BQ

INNOVATION LAUNCHPAD

AWARDS

Top tips on winning business awards

Always wanted to win a

business award? Don’t know

where to start or what you

should include in your entry?

Winning an award can also

boost team morale, drive

competitive advantage and

secure trust in your business.

Multi-award winner Denise

O’Leary of Purpol Marketing

explains how to consistently

win business awards for your

business and leverage the great

PR opportunities they present.

What do you want to be

known for?

When trying to decide which

award or category of an award

to enter, you need to consider

the relevance that the award

can have to your business. If

you have limited resources,

then target the one you really

want, find out the structure and

then the entry can be tweaked

for any additional submissions.

Promote your USP:

Unique Selling Point

Every company will be different

– you have got to determine

what your company USP is –

this is the Unique Selling Point

that makes you stand out and

makes your business memorable.

This is the content you

need to focus on to make your

entry impactful.

Evidence is essential

– get client testimonials

Award entries give you the

opportunity to document

your achievements, but if you

haven’t done yourself justice

on that entry form, they can’t

give you the credit. If someone

outside the business has been

prepared to say how great you

are, it is far more powerful.

Tailor your entries for

ultimate success

Each award is likely to be

judged individually, so we

would always recommend that

you tackle each award independently.

The entry criteria need

to be evaluated and matched

against your individual and

company attributes and then

displayed on the entry form.

Visualise that win

Understand why you want to

win. When you know this, you

can target the awards to enter.

Build an Award Calendar –

this will make it easier for time

planning.

Be honest

Always be honest with your

entry. Don’t lie, make up

figures or avoid mentioning

something that the general

business community will know

about you. The judges are

usually experienced business

owners, investors and experts

in their fields. Being sincere

and explaining your challenges

is very powerful as it shows you

are constantly learning.

You can find more awards

tips in Denise’s new book

‘WINNER – How to Win

Business Awards’ available at

winnerhowtowin.com

■■Details 01249 481411 or

purpolmarketing.co.uk

What value is there in entering and winning

awards? asks Business Action editor

Robert Zarywacz.

Well, in 2019 we entered Business

Action in the Small Business

Saturday competition to be one of its

#SmallBiz100 – 100 businesses from

across the country selected to represent

the campaign. Not only were we chosen

as the only business in Devon, but we

joined the Small Business Saturday

alumni, a group of all the #SmallBiz100

winners since the campaign began. It

was through this that I connected with

Denise O’Leary – whose business had

been selected in 2017 – on LinkedIn.

Denise told me that the book she had

written on entering awards would be

published in early 2020, coinciding with

our own awards. We kept in touch and

Denise sent me a copy to review here.

We had already realised we wanted

to publish some tips for our awards and

Denise’s book covers every topic we

identified, from recognising that your

business very likely has the ability to win

awards to selecting the most suitable

awards for your business to enter. As

an experienced organiser and judge of

awards myself, I agree with Denise’s practical

suggestions, including composing

your award entries offline (so you don’t

lose hours of work when an online entry

form crashes) to understanding what

judges are looking for in your entry and

how to satisfy that.

Our aim in organising the Business

Action Awards is not only to recognise

the achievements of North Devon businesses,

but also to encourage more to

enter and win other industry, regional

or national awards. If you want your

business to be an award winner, I recommend

you read WINNER – How to Win

Business Awards.

If we hadn’t entered the #SmallBiz100,

we wouldn’t have benefited by connecting

with winners including Denise.

@businessactionm | February / March 2020 | business action 17

IN THE HOT SEAT

Jason Sharman of Atlas Packaging

1. What was your first job?

My first job was working

in an insurance office as an

administrator for the claims

department. It was where I first

discovered how creative people

can be with the truth!

2. What is the best

business advice you’ve

ever received?

The best advice I have received

in business is ‘Do the right

thing’.

3. What do you enjoy most

about business?

What I love about business is

meeting a myriad of personalities

and getting an insight into

various industries and how

they operate.

4. What essential

technology could your

business never be without?

There is no way we could

operate without computers,

the thought of that gives me

the shivers!

5. Describe your business

management / style

My management / business

style is one based around

teamwork and collaboration:

you can achieve so much more

as a group.

6. How do you go about

personal development?

I gain personal development

by reading, staying abreast

of current affairs and sharing

experiences with friends

throughout the industry.

7. Is there anything about

yourself that you would like

to change?

If there was one thing I wish I

Each issue we put a North Devon business personality in the hot seat

and ask them 10 questions. This issue we asked Jason Sharman,

managing director of Atlas Packaging in Barnstaple

could change it would be to be

more considered. I tend to go

from heart rather than head a

little too much.

8. Social media: yes or no?

Preferred network?

Social media for the business,

but not for me personally. My

data is my data, although I do

have a LinkedIn profile.

9. How do you wind down

when not working?

I like to run whilst listening to

music as a way to wind down,

currently listening to ‘Bicep’

and ‘Hot Since 82’ for some

great up-tempo tunes. I also

try to read but often failing as I

tend to fall asleep two pages in!

10. Do you have a motto or

favourite quotation?

My favourite motto has to be

‘The standards you walk past are

the standards you accept’ – you

can probably tell that I’m a clean

freak and I love nothing more

than a sparkling shop floor.

ATLAS PACKAGING

Atlas Packaging Ltd was

founded in 1983 and has grown

from strength to strength to

become a market leader in

the packaging industry. Atlas

has an outstanding reputation

for diversity, reliability and

superior customer service;

this has been gained through

a dedication to training, heavy

investment in modern facilities

and a company-wide drive to

deliver an exceptional standard

across the board.

This on-going commitment

to achieving the company’s

aspirations for development

has embedded design and

innovation into the core of

Atlas Packaging. From basic

designs through to innovative

marketing campaigns, Atlas

is able to design and manufacture

an almost unlimited

range of bespoke packaging

solutions. As well as being able

to offer bespoke design and

manufacturing solutions, we

also have a range of standard

industry-specific products

available to order.

Because you can’t provide

a top service without a top

team, all Atlas employees are

brought on board for their

enthusiasm, skill and spirit.

In return, everyone is offered

a welcoming, enjoyable and

supportive working environment.

The success of the Atlas

team is built on collaboration

and support, and this

has created a strong sense

of community among our

employees.

■■Details 01271 344055 or

atlaspackaging.co.uk

01271 267420 | info@gtales.co.uk

business action | February / March 2020 | business-action.co.uk

Are you still typing invoice

data into your accounts?

While entering all purchase

invoices into accounting

software is necessary, there are

downsides to this.

Kevin Salter, chartered

accountant and chartered tax

adviser with Glover Stanbury,

specialises in the application

of IT in business and

offers some helpful hints on

improving productivity:

Disadvantages

Manual entry is labour

intensive – many invoices now

arrive in an electronic format,

eg a PDF attached to an email.

What happens to these? They

are printed out, approved and

passed for rekeying data into

the accounts software before

being filed away.

It is expensive – what

is the direct labour cost

and other overhead costs –

employer’s NI, pension, etc

– of employing someone to do

the boring, repetitive task of

processing purchase invoices?

It is prone to error – while

these are often picked up later

in the accounting process,

it can be time consuming to

track down and correct them.

Common errors include

posting invoices twice, posting

to the wrong supplier account

or miskeying figures.

Inconsistent analysis –

last year the expense may

have been coded to ‘sundry

expenses’, but this year

recorded in ‘subscriptions’,

only to go back into ‘sundry

expenses’ next year.

There may be delays in

Small Business Saturday

passed in December, but we

need to support our small and

local businesses all year round.

When Business Action was

selected as a #SmallBiz100,

we started our ‘From 10 to a

million’ campaign to persuade

more people in North Devon

and Torridge to switch £10

of spending from an online

giant or national company to a

processing the invoices – they

can mount up when bookkeeping

staff go away on leave.

Printing and storage costs –

add up all the costs of printing

them out, filing them away

and storing them for six years

– printer toner or ink, paper,

files, racking or filing cabinets,

rent of storage space, etc.

What is the alternative?

The alternative is electronic

processing and data extraction:

Paper invoices coming in

are scanned or photographed

and uploaded to a web site.

Those received electronically

can simply be forwarded to an

email address.

Data is extracted – invoice

number, supplier name, date,

gross, net, VAT etc. The transaction

can be allocated to an

expense code (or split between

multiple codes in fixed sums

or percentages). This allocation

can be ‘remembered’ for

future similar transactions.

The data is downloaded in

a format suitable for import

straight into the accounts

software. No more keying in.

The paper invoices can be

thrown away – really! The

scanned versions are readily

available and searchable

within the software.

If this can help your

business, Kevin would be

happy to discuss how you

can start processing invoices

electronically.

■■Details 01271 375271 /

01237 471881 or

gloverstanbury.co.uk

local business. If everyone did

this on just one day, it would

keep more than £1 million in

the local economy to support

businesses and jobs here. All

we have to do is pause before

we make any purchase and

consider whether we can buy

from a local business.

And when we do buy locally

to share it with the #10to1m

hashtag. Let’s do it!

ACCOUNTS

Attract customer

Attention!

with your marketing, PR

and communications

u business journalism u technical writing u

u case studies u blogs & online content u

u magazine production u campaigns u

u events u project management u

Call Robert Zarywacz on

01271 879100

25 years of business communication

COMMUNICATE IN SPEECH, PRINT & ONLINE

Wills Property Trusts (in will)

Children’s Trusts (in will) Funeral Plans

Probate Lasting Powers of Attorney

Wills: £70 Single / £105 Joint

@businessactionm | February / March 2020 | business action 19

SUPPORT HEADER

Hotel events support local food producers

The Carlton Hotel in Ilfracombe

is hosting two events to

support local food producers.

On Monday 24 February, it

is hosting a members, prospective

members and guests

evening for Food and Drink

Devon. Producers, suppliers,

retailers, and café and restaurant

owners are welcome to

attend to find out more about

the benefits of ‘keeping it local’.

Attendees can enjoy a welcome

drink and light supper while

networking. This trade event is

open to local farmers, butchers,

bakers, processors, retailers of

any size and any outlet category.

To book, email membership

@fooddrinkdevon.co.uk

On Friday 28 February, the

Carlton is teaming up with

local farmer Chris Lerwill to

host a Foodie Friday Steak

Night in the Brasserie as part of

Exmoor Food Fest.

Chris will be talking about

his family’s traditional methods

of farming, including sustainable

animal husbandry and the

benefits this brings.

Guests will enjoy the finest

Exmoor Park beef from cattle

selected from breeds that

would have traditionally grazed

on the moors. Generally slower

to mature, they are still raised

in small herds on small family

farms as they have been for

generations. The Lerwill family

have been raising beef on

Exmoor since the 12th century.

➤➤How to make the most of

your levy and the transfer

options available

➤➤Tour of the college facilities,

including conference

and meeting rooms

➤➤How to join Petroc’s Advisory

Groups

➤➤T-levels, Traineeships and

Work placements

➤➤Information about available

funding to upskill your

workforce

Book sessions by contacting

business@petroc.ac.uk

Apprenticeship event

Petroc is holding an apprenticeship

event to support local

and national employers with

apprenticeship vacancies on

Thursday 5 March at its North

Devon Campus.

The aim of the event is to

raise awareness of the benefit

of becoming an apprentice and

to provide an opportunity for

employers to promote specific

apprenticeship vacancies,

All their cattle are hand

reared using non-intensive

methods and benefit from a

high biodiversity structure

and varied diet. The incredibly

short journey from gate to plate

keeps Exmoor Beef ’s carbon

footprint of to a minimum

compared with intensive

livestock farms and maximises

sustainability with the smallest

environmental impact.

■■Details 01271 862446 or

ilfracombecarlton.co.uk

Technology centre launch, business drop-ins and

apprenticeship event

North Devon businesses are

invited to the official launch

of Petroc’s new Centre of

Technology & Innovation

Excellence (Cotie) at its North

Devon Campus in Barnstaple

on Friday 7 February.

Cotie aims to provide local

businesses with the tools to

create their own future. The

innovation centre is built to

inspire collaboration and

creativity, and its up-to-date

facilities include:

➤➤an expertly-equipped

development zone with 3D

manufacturing technology

➤➤a relaxed yet professional

conferencing area

➤➤open-plan hot desks area

complete with high-spec

and fully loaded PCs and

Macs

➤➤a state-of-the-art cleanroom

➤➤two crisply modern design

pods

There will be a welcome and

address from Sean Mackney,

Petroc principal and chief

executive officer, at 8:30am,

although businesses are

welcome to drop in at any time

between 8:00am and 10:00am

Petroc is hosting a number of events of interest to businesses

including the launch of its new technology centre, regular drop-in

sessions and an apprenticeship event

when refreshments will be

available.

■■Register at eventbrite.co.uk/

e/cotie-official-launch-tickets-

90301396909

Drop-in sessions

This session is part of Petroc’s

Business Development Team’s

series of regular drop-ins

where businesses can discuss

everything about skills and

training solutions.

The team have experience

of supporting employers

across the South West to set

up and maintain a learning

culture that will enhance

productivity and help businesses

grow. Topics covered

can include:

➤➤Information, advice and

guidance on upskilling your

workforce

➤➤Short courses and bespoke

training solutions to meet

your business needs

➤➤Recruiting apprentices

(Level 2 to Degree level) to

grow your future workforce

acting as a recruitment event.

Petroc will be inviting:

➤➤Parents/carers and pupils

from local secondary

schools – Year 10, 11 and

sixth form

➤➤The general public

➤➤Current Petroc learners –

from both North and Mid

Devon Campuses

➤➤In addition, parents/carers

of Petroc students will be

sent an invite as they can

play a big role in guiding

careers choices and many

know little of the fantastic

opportunities apprenticeships

offer in the area

Businesses wanting to exhibit

at this event can email marcus.

coyle@petroc.ac.uk to confirm

their space.

If you would like to talk to

a member of Petroc’s Business

Engagement Team about the

various apprenticeship options

that might suit your business

before this event, Marcus can

arrange for a team member to

visit you.

■■To keep informed of the

full range of events Petroc

hosts for local businesses, visit

petroc.ac.uk/events

business action | February / March 2020 | business-action.co.uk

Devon and Plymouth Chamber

is hosting a free Access to

Finance Fair on Wednesday

25 March from 8am to 3pm at

Dartington Hall, Totnes.

Challenges of finance

Accessing finance is one of

the single largest issues facing

ambitious businesses and

social enterprises in the South

West. And ensuring your business

plans are ready to apply

for investment successfully is

often the biggest hurdle. The

world of finance is complicated

and often overwhelming.

Event aims

This event aims to unravel

some of the complex routes

to commercial investment

through a series of educational

and impartial seminars

throughout the day, as well as

information and advice from a

wide range of exhibitors from

across the finance and investment

sectors.

Event supporters

The Heart of the South West

Local Enterprise Partnership

(HotSW LEP), Devon

County Council, Plymouth

City Council and the Devon

and Plymouth Chamber of

Commerce recognise the

importance of accessing the

right financial support and

information and are all supporting

this fair.

New funding routes

Historical funding routes have

changed, with high street banks

operating under new lending

guidelines and new entrants

offering a range of viable

alternative options. However,

the market can still be very

confusing to businesses.

SUPPORT

Devon Chamber Access to Finance Fair

As the percentage of businesses

with appropriately

qualified finance directors is

small, it has been increasingly

difficult for smaller growing

businesses to identify appropriate

sources of financial

investment, with the financial

articulation of requirements

and projection of impact

falling largely upon third

parties, such as accountants.

Event sponsors

The event is sponsored by

Western Union and run

by Devon and Plymouth

Chamber of Commerce and

partners, who are providing a

platform for key professionals

from the finance, investment

and accountancy sectors to

educate and inform businesses

on how to source finance in

today’s economy.

Exhibitors

Exhibitors will include US

global financial and communications

company Western

Union, which will be hosting

a seminar; South West-based

commercial finance broker

Start Point Finance, which will

also be presenting; Barclays,

which provides a range of

banking and financial services

for businesses of all sizes;

SWIG Finance, which provides

viable SMEs and start-ups

with access to finance through

dedicated business loan funds

in the South West; and Balance

for Business, a Plymouthbased

commercial financial

broker which has sourced £200

million for clients in the past

five years.

■■Entry to this event is free.

Contact 01752 220471 or visit

devonchamber.co.uk/events

In response to feedback from

North Devon members, Devon

and Plymouth Chamber is

hosting a series of six special

skills and international trade

training courses in Barnstaple.

The courses will support

businesses trading internationally

or wanting to develop trade

internationally and, accredited

by the British Chambers of

Commerce (BCC), cover the

critical steps for any new or

existing international trade.

Courses and dates

The courses scheduled are:

➤➤Introduction to International

Trade – 13 February

➤➤Customs Procedures and

Export Documentation

– 12 March

➤➤Incoterms 2020 – 30 April

➤➤International Trade Payment

Processes – 21 May

➤➤Product Classification &

Rules of Origin – 25 June

➤➤Special Customs Procedures

& Customs Audit Preparations

–16 July

Each course passed will be

certificated and success in

obtaining six credits will lead

to a Foundation Award in

International Trade, certified

by BCC, which is equivalent to

an NVQ2 qualification.

Hobart Manufacturing

The export training sessions

are hosted by chamber member

Hobart Manufacturing in its

Barnstaple factory board room.

International Trade Matters

Training is provided by local

independent company International

Trade Matters.

Who are these courses for?

These courses will suit

anyone involved in importing

and exporting goods and

services, arming you and your

employees with the knowledge

to trade internationally.

The people who attend

courses include owner/proprietors

of small businesses who

manage their own import and

export services through to

employees working in import/

export departments in larger

organisations. Some will attend

all the courses, others just

attend those relevant to their

specific role.

Training your staff to deliver

your products or services right

first time, every time, will lower

your costs and improve the

experience you deliver to your

customers. Choosing an export

training provider such as

Devon and Plymouth Chamber

of Commerce and International

Trade Matters, who both

understand about making a

profit internationally, can really

help your company take off in

your export markets.

Full details of Devon

and Plymouth Chamber’s

international trade training

programme are available

at devonchamber.co.uk/

international-trade-trainingprogramme/

■■Details 01752 220471 or

devonchamber.co.uk

@businessactionm | February / March 2020 | business action 21

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